Case Study A: Sandwich Generation

The Challenge

Between parenting, careers, and elder care, Dave and Sara’s own finances had taken a back seat. They believed they were doing “okay” but didn’t have a clear strategy for managing their investments, funding college, or preparing for retirement. They had questions like:

• How do we consolidate our various accounts and ensure they’re aligned with our goals?
• What’s the most tax-efficient way to fund our children’s education?
• Are we maximizing the structure of Sara’s consulting business and Dave’s partnership income?
• How can we support our parents without jeopardizing our own financial future?
• Do we actually have a solid retirement plan?

The Approach

They partnered with a financial planner who took the time to understand their concerns and unique family dynamics. The goal was to create a plan that balanced near-term responsibilities with long-term aspirations. Most importantly, they wanted to work with a team that was collaborative, down-to-earth, and experienced with complex, multi-generational planning.

The Result With a plan in place, Dave and Sara were able to: Consolidate and organize their accounts in a way that aligned with their values and priorities Shift college funding assets into more tax-efficient vehicles, reducing avoidable capital gains Structure Sara’s business to maximize deductions and retirement plan contributions Defer portions of Dave’s partnership income strategically to reduce current tax exposure Collaborate with eldercare professionals and estate attorneys to support both sets of parents Build a framework for their own retirement that provided clarity, flexibility, and peace of mind

_{Disclosure Note: The above case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual client of our firm. It is intended for illustrative purposes only. No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee of specific results or outcomes if our firm is engaged to provide investment advisory services. Discussions related to tax and/or estate planning are typically conducted in collaboration with our clients' other professional advisors.}